5 Tips for Improving Your Respiratory System
By Brandi Goodman
Your respiratory system needs to remain in good shape if you hope to breathe easily and maintain your lung function. A number of factors can inhibit your respiration and cause pain in your chest. Keep these five tips for improving your respiratory system in mind so you can continue to breathe well and maintain your health.
Practice Breathing Techniques
You may not think standing around and simply breathing in different ways could help you. It can though. Practice different breathing techniques to get your lungs working and hone their abilities. Breathe in deeply and hold for a few seconds before releasing the air. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Trying different techniques can get your respiratory system working hard and strengthen your lungs.
Do Aerobic Exercise
Sure, lifting weights can make your arms look great, but you'll need to do more than that to work out your respiratory system. Make sure you're performing regular aerobic exercise to get your lungs working hard and improve their function. Aerobic exercise should have you breathing hard and get your heart pumping. Skiing, swimming, running, and even walking are all solid options.
Improve Your Air Quality
The quality of the air you breathe can greatly impact your lungs. Breathe in pollen, dust, and allergens daily and you're bound to experience symptoms of poor lung function, such as coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and consistently feeling as though you just can't take in all the air you need. Get your vents and ducts cleaned regularly and make sure you dust around your home to keep your air quality clean.
Stop Smoking
Cigarettes affect your lung function greatly. Stop smoking and you'll soon see how much better you can breathe and better you feel overall. It can of course be tricky to quit when you've smoked for a long time, but even cutting back can help.
Eat Foods High in Antioxidants
You need healthy food to maintain your lung health. Foods high in antioxidants especially help because they work to fight off toxins that harm the cells and ward off disease. Lung disease can drastically reduce the abilities of your respiratory system. Foods high in protein are beneficial as well because they help to heal. Make sure you're eating berries, leafy greens, nuts, and fruits.
You should always work to keep yourself healthy, and that includes your lungs. You need to maintain your respiratory system and keep it working as efficiently as possible so when you end up sick from a flu or worse, its function is still maintained.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Gold River, Calif.